Hi everyone! Can you believe we are already almost reaching mid year – where has the time gone! I am absolutely OVER THE MOON to introduce our Mr. May, who is no stranger to almost everyone living in the UAE. The sound of his voice on the radio every morning automatically sets the tone for a great day! Kris Fade is the award winning radio host of The Kris Fade Show, and most importantly, the father of 2 beautiful girls. Kris is a very strong advocate of spreading positivity, happiness, doing what’s right, and being healthy – which has inspired him to launch “Fade Fit Kids” . I am not a parent, but I can definitely sympathize with mums and dads who are continuously trying to lead a healthy lifestyle for their children. Kris’s struggle to find the perfect snack for his daughters’ lunchbox which won’t break the bank, was next to impossible. Together with Munchbox and Carrefour, he launched an affordable healthy yummy snack, free from sugar, preservatives, peanuts, and is perfect for that afternoon pick me up. Happy reading, and don’t forget to tune in to his breakfast show!

Quick facts:

Name: Kris Fade

Profession: radio presenter

Favourite destination: home (Sydney, Australia) but also New York City

Horoscope sign: Pisces

Loves: basketball, gym, guitar and extra sleep

Hates: rude and disrespectful people, cyber bullying, cancer

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.
My name is Kris Fade, I am a radio presenter on Virgin Radio 104.4, I’m Australian Lebanese, a father of 2 and I call Dubai home for the last 10 years.

2. How do you handle difficult times in your life?
I’ve got a hashtag which I use a lot: #KeepGoing. Even in the hardest times in your life, you just have to tell yourself “you know what, there’s going to be an exit point, there will be better times out of this and just keep on going. Also making sure you’ve got a couple of close people around you, because you always need that support network; if you keep it all to yourself and on your own shoulders, that’s when things can get out of hand.

3. What is your secret to achieving the right balance between your career, family, friends and doing what you really love?
It’s a really hard balance and something I’m working on – where you do too much work and you don’t allow fun and more time for yourself. I think having time for yourself is really important. Right now with my career, the radio, Fade Fit Kids, and all the other stuff that I do – it is demanding, and time management is everything. I really have my whole days planned out by the hour – I know exactly where I’ve gotta be, and I make sure within that, that there are hours solely for my kids and there’s hours solely for myself.

4. What are your hobbies?
I love playing basketball, the guitar, and just hanging out with the kids. Is watching UFC fighting and chilling with Netflix a hobby – cause if it is, that’s mine!

5. What are your tips for happiness?
There’s a famous saying that a lot of people know, which is “don’t sweat the small stuff”, and it’s something I’ve been working on. The little things that you allow to get to you, that manifest in your mind – don’t even allow them to break in, just let them go straight away. Things will become easier.

6. Who is your role model or someone you look up to?
I look up to The Rock, not because he is this six foot monster with huge muscles, its more about his career and where he’s come from. He was an athlete who had an injury and his career was over, but instead of just saying “there it is I’m done”, he kept working on himself – go himself into wrestling, then into acting. He now owns his own production company, makes his own films, and is the highest paid actor in the world right now. I love to see someone who starts from nothing and goes up, and that is really something I want to achieve for myself. I came from a humble family in Australia, where we were taught to work (I started working at the age of 16), I always want to keep going.

7. What have been the most exciting milestones in your life?
There’s many. My kids, obviously – Noushie and Kikki, 8 and 6 years old. Being able to raise these little monkey, that’s the biggest milestone in my life. I think everyday is a milestone with them.

8. If you could change one thing in the world right now, what would it be?
Oh man .. there’s too many! One thing I would really like to change is social network and people’s behaviour. I think social media has become more of a negative than a positive sometimes, and people feel its their way to go and attack someone instantly which I think is not cool – and I think that is something we can work on.

9. There are still a lot of cultures and societies who frown upon successful women. Why do you think that is, and how can it change?
Women are everything. I think if there is a culture or a certain society that are not accepting of what women can achieve, or should achieve – their mindset is not right. Women have the ability to surpass us men … I have had many bosses who have been women – and I tell you, I would rather work under a woman than a man. They are more knowledgeable, they can handle a personal situation a lot better – I feel like they are less emotional.

10. What advice can you offer for men and women, trying to balance a career, family and personal life?
Put a big smile on your face and look at the positives before the negatives. I like to wake up in the morning and just be grateful for what I’ve got: a great job, I’m healthy, I’ve got great kids, and I’ve got a loving family – and that’s all I need.

Disclaimer: Thank you Kris for collaborating on this post and for spreading happiness and positivity everyday. Also thank you to Taghred Chandab (Ms. April), who arranged the interview – if you haven’t already, have a peek at what makes her a rock star right here!